BCCI to make another round of one-time ex-gratia payment to ex-first class cricketers

Cricketers who played between 50 and 74 matches in that era will be rewarded.

The decisions were taken at a meeting of BCCI’s Finance Committee (Representational photo)

New Delhi: Jun 4, 2014

In a gesture rewarding first-class cricketers of bygone era, the BCCI will make another round of one time ex-gratia payment to the tune of Rs 20 lakh per head for all those who have retired prior to 2003.

The BCCI decided that they will make the payment to those first-class cricketers, who have played between 50 and 74 first-class matches in the period before 2003. The decisions were taken at a meeting of BCCI’s Finance Committee in New Delhi on Wednesday, sources said. The cut-off date for the retirement would be 2003.

It was unanimously decided that just like the first-class cricketers, who have played more than 75 matches in the era when the match fee was peanuts, were rewarded, the BCCI would do the same for those who played between 50 and 74 matches. ”In those days, these cricketers also represented state for a good 10 years,” a finance committee source told PTI on conditions of anonymity. The Committee was informed that Income Tax demand on BCCI has accumulated to the tune of Rs 788 crore against which it has filed an appeal in the Bombay High Court recently.

“Today, the matter of pending taxes was raised and the floor was informed that the pending tax amount is to the tune of Rs 788 crore, which has accrued since 2006-07 financial year. In 2012-13 alone, it was to the tune of Rs 238 crore,” the source added. The annual budget of the National Cricket Academy (NCA) could not be cleared as the sub-committee has not submitted it till date. Players like Akshar Patel, Kedar Jadhav, Pankaj Singh have been automatically included in Grade C of the Central Contract list after making it to the various Indian squads.

The finance committee also decided that two state associations–Rajasthan Cricket Association and Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA)–have not been provided with a Rs 7 crore interim grant that has been allocated for all other state associations. ”Since BCCI has banned RCA and JKCA has not furnished their annual audit report for the last three years, these two associations will not get the interim grant of Rs 7 crore,” the source added.

First Published on June 4, 2014 10:55 PM ISTLast updated on June 4, 2014 10:58 PM IST